Radio communication devices and methods for controlling a radio communication device

ABSTRACT

According to various embodiments, a radio communication device may be provided. The radio communication device may include: a memory circuit configured to store data to be broadcasted; a communication circuit configured to establish a wireless connection with a first further radio communication device; and a transmitter configured to at least one of broadcast signals based on the stored data or transmit a signal based on the stored data to the first further radio communication device using the communication circuit; wherein the communication circuit is configured to receive information from the first further radio communication device based on a signal broadcasted by a second further radio communication device, free from the communication circuit receiving the signal from the second further radio communication device.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a national stage entry of PCT/SG2014/000268 filedJun. 9, 2014, said application is expressly incorporated herein in itsentirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Various embodiments generally relate to radio communication devices andmethods for controlling a radio communication device.

BACKGROUND

For portable or wearable devices, the amount of energy capacity (forexample in a battery) may be very limited. As such, a method ofconserving energy while attempt to achieve to intended function may bedesired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to various embodiments, a radio communication device may beprovided. The radio communication device may include: a memory circuitconfigured to store data to be broadcasted; a communication circuitconfigured to establish a wireless connection with a first further radiocommunication device; and a transmitter configured to at least one ofbroadcast signals based on the stored data or transmit a signal based onthe stored data to the first further radio communication device usingthe communication circuit; wherein the communication circuit isconfigured to receive information from the first further radiocommunication device based on a signal broadcasted by a second furtherradio communication device, free from the communication circuitreceiving the signal from the second further radio communication device.

According to various embodiments, a method for controlling a radiocommunication device may be provided. The method may include: storingdata to be broadcasted; establishing a wireless connection with a firstfurther radio communication device using a communication circuit; atleast one of broadcasting signals based on the stored data ortransmitting a signal based on the stored data to the first furtherradio communication device using the communication circuit; andreceiving using the communication circuit information from the firstfurther radio communication device based on a signal broadcasted by asecond further radio communication device, free from the communicationcircuit receiving the signal from the second further radio communicationdevice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the sameparts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarilyto scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating theprinciples of the invention. The dimensions of the various features orelements may be arbitrarily expanded or reduced for clarity. In thefollowing description, various embodiments of the invention aredescribed with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A shows a diagram illustrating a conventional communicationmethod;

FIGS. 1B and 1C show radio communication devices according to variousembodiments;

FIG. 1D shows a flow diagram illustrating a method for controlling aradio communication device;

FIG. 2A shows a radio communication device according to variousembodiments;

FIG. 2B shows a flow diagram illustrating a method for controlling aradio communication device;

FIG. 2C shows a radio communication device according to variousembodiments;

FIG. 2D shows a flow diagram illustrating a method for controlling aradio communication device;

FIG. 3, FIG. 4, and FIG. 5 show illustrations indirect informationexchange and of methods for band to band information exchange accordingto various embodiments;

FIG. 6A shows a radio communication system according to variousembodiments;

FIG. 6B shows a flow diagram illustrating a radio communication methodaccording to various embodiments; and

FIG. 7 shows a radio communication system according to variousembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawingsthat show, by way of illustration, specific details and embodiments inwhich the invention may be practiced. These embodiments are described insufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice theinvention. Other embodiments may be utilized and structural, and logicalchanges may be made without departing from the scope of the invention.The various embodiments are not necessarily mutually exclusive, as someembodiments can be combined with one or more other embodiments to formnew embodiments.

In order that the invention may be readily understood and put intopractical effect, particular embodiments will now be described by way ofexamples and not limitations, and with reference to the figures.

Various embodiments are provided for devices, and various embodimentsare provided for methods. It will be understood that basic properties ofthe devices also hold for the methods and vice versa. Therefore, forsake of brevity, duplicate description of such properties may beomitted.

It will be understood that any property described herein for a specificdevice may also hold for any device described herein. It will beunderstood that any property described herein for a specific method mayalso hold for any method described herein. Furthermore, it will beunderstood that for any device or method described herein, notnecessarily all the components or steps described must be enclosed inthe device or method, but only some (but not all) components or stepsmay be enclosed.

The term “coupled” (or “connected”) herein may be understood aselectrically coupled or as mechanically coupled, for example attached orfixed or attached, or just in contact without any fixation, and it willbe understood that both direct coupling or indirect coupling (in otherwords: coupling without direct contact) may be provided.

In this context, the radio communication device as described in thisdescription may include a memory which is for example used in theprocessing carried out in the radio communication device. A memory usedin the embodiments may be a volatile memory, for example a DRAM (DynamicRandom Access Memory) or a non-volatile memory, for example a PROM(Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable PROM), EEPROM(Electrically Erasable PROM), or a flash memory, e.g., a floating gatememory, a charge trapping memory, an MRAM (Magnetoresistive RandomAccess Memory) or a PCRAM (Phase Change Random Access Memory).

In an embodiment, a “circuit” may be understood as any kind of a logicimplementing entity, which may be special purpose circuitry or aprocessor executing software stored in a memory, firmware, or anycombination thereof. Thus, in an embodiment, a “circuit” may be ahard-wired logic circuit or a programmable logic circuit such as aprogrammable processor, e.g. a microprocessor (e.g. a ComplexInstruction Set Computer (CISC) processor or a Reduced Instruction SetComputer (RISC) processor). A “circuit” may also be a processorexecuting software, e.g. any kind of computer program, e.g. a computerprogram using a virtual machine code such as e.g. Java. Any other kindof implementation of the respective functions which will be described inmore detail below may also be understood as a “circuit” in accordancewith an alternative embodiment.

A radio communication device may be a mobile radio communication device,like for example a mobile phone or a tablet computer, or may be awearable device, for example a band or a wristband.

It will be understood that band and wristband may be usedinterchangeable, and may for example include closed bands or bands whichmay be opened, for example by a mechanism identical or similar tomechanisms used for watches.

Current wireless wearable devices (like for example fitness bands,watches etc.) may make use of wireless low energy communication protocol(BLE (Bluetooth low energy)) to conserve power while provide linkage tohost device such as smart phone. However so far none of the wearabledevices offers a device to device information exchange feature due tohigh energy consumption if a conventional method were to use.

For portable or wearable devices, the amount of energy capacity (forexample in a battery) may be very limited. As such, a method ofconserving energy while attempt to achieve to intended function may bedesired.

Current wireless technology has come to a point where for a goodwireless link within a 10 to 20m range, the energy needed to transmitdata may be almost the same as energy needed to scan and receive data.In some case, it is already shown that energy needed to scan and receivedata is higher than energy needed to transmit data.

A typical portable communication method may be for one device totransmit a short burst at a certain interval, for example τ with periodρ. On the receiver end, in an ideal case, the device may also wake up atinterval τ with period ρ to listen for any incoming packet. In practicethis may be rarely achievable since both communication devices may beoperating at different clocks and in time both devices' clocking maydrift from one another. In practice, the receiver may need to have awider opening window to tailor for clock tolerances between the twodevices, so that the actual period of receiver will may be ρ±ω where ωmay be the addition time needed before and after the period to cater forthis practical issue; for example, ω=½ρ. The task of scanning andreceiving wireless data packet may become more energy consuming.

If actual wireless data communication were to take place, assuming onedevice is transmitter and another device act as scanner and receiver,the strain may be placed on the scanner (in other words: the receiver)as it may consume more energy. Worst still, under practical device todevice communication, it may be more likely that devices need totransmit as well as to listen for data or respond. Under limited energycapacity for such portable/wearable device (for example with a typical3V to 3.7V with 30 mAh to 300 mAh depending on size) use for suchapplication may drain off energy within 1 to 2 days, putting aside otherfunctions that may be desired to process in the device.

In the following, a band to band information exchange will be described.

FIG. 1A shows a diagram 100 illustrating a conventional communicationmethod. A first user 102 may wear a first wearable device 104 (forexample a first band, which may be referred to as Band-1). A second user106 may wear a second wearable device 108 (for example a second band,which may be referred to as Band-2). The first wearable device 104 andthe second wearable device 108 may communicate with each other, likeillustrated by arrow 110.

The first wearable device 104 may transmit information and the secondwearable device 108 may receive information from the first wearabledevice 104 directly. The first wearable device 104 may transmit randomlyand the second wearable device 108 may stay in receive mode since thereis no synchronization mechanism between the two bands. If both partieswish to transmit information to each other, both wearable devices mayhave to transmit randomly in periodical manner and switch to scanningmode after transmission so that they are able to receive informationfrom the other party.

According to various embodiments, indirect communication leverage onhigher energy capacity device such as a smart phone (1500-2000 mAH) toperform the scanning and receive function while relegate portable deviceto just serve as transmit function may be provided. This may simplifythe complexity of device to device communication for the portable deviceand may allow the extension of operating life of the device.

Furthermore, according to various embodiments, there may be no sensitiveinformation being stored or transmits during this transaction. Thesecurity of such info may be resided in a secured server, which may bean easier and logical way of managing sensitive information.

According to various embodiments, an indirect device to device (D2D)wireless communication method may be provided.

According to various embodiments, devices and methods may be providedfor conserving energy capacity in a wearable device or radiocommunication device.

The conservation of energy in the wearable device can be done byleveraging on the battery power of the smartphone for part of all of theprocessing functions of the wearable device.

Various devices and methods may be provided for the wearable device toleverage on the battery power of the smartphone. According to variousembodiments, the wearable device may transmit periodically to scan forother devices (“Scanning”) and to link with the smartphone for furtherprocessing such as transmitting and receiving information (“beaconing”)from other smartphones or server. According to various embodiments, thewearable device may link with the smartphone to do both the scanning andbeaconing functions of the wearable device. So although the wearabledevice and the smartphone may be linked via BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy),to save more than half of the energy of the wearable device taken up byscanning and beaconing functions, these functions may be done by thesmartphone on the wearable device's behalf.

FIG. 1B shows a radio communication device 112 according to variousembodiments. The radio communication device 112 may include a memorycircuit 114 configured to (for example permanently) store data to bebroadcasted. The radio communication device 112 may further include acommunication circuit 116 configured to establish a wireless connectionwith a first further radio communication device (not shown in FIG. 1B).The radio communication device 112 may further include a transmitter 118configured to at least one of broadcast signals based on the stored dataor transmit a signal based on the stored data to the first further radiocommunication device using the communication circuit 116. Thecommunication circuit 116 may be configured to receive information fromthe first further radio communication device based on a signalbroadcasted by a second further radio communication device (not shown inFIG. 1B), free from (in other words: without) the communication circuit116 receiving the signal from the second further radio communicationdevice. The memory circuit 114 (in other words: memory), thecommunication circuit 116, and the transmitter 118 may be coupled witheach other, like indicated by lines 120, for example electricallycoupled, for example using a line or a cable, and/or mechanicallycoupled.

In other words, a radio communication device 112 may connect with afirst further radio communication device, and may either broadcastsignals or instruct the first further radio communication device tobroadcast signals on behalf of the radio communication device 112, andmay, via the first further radio communication device, receiveinformation based on signals broadcasted by a second further radiocommunication device.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device 112 maybe an ultra low power device.

While there may be various definitions of ULP (ultra low power), it maybe helpful to consider it in the context of batteries because they areeasily the most common energy source for ULP designs today. Medicalapplications in which electronic devices are implanted in or attached tothe body are good examples of ULP designs that run on batteries. Hereare three examples:

-   -   Implanted medical device. Size and battery life are primary        considerations. Power dissipation of 10 μW and battery life of        15,000 hours would be typical.    -   In-ear device. Size becomes more important that life, which        indicates button cell. Typical power dissipation of 1 mW and        1,500-hour life.    -   Surface-of-skin device. Limiting factor is the ability of skin        surface to dissipate heat. Typical power dissipation of 10 mW        and 150-hour life.

To operate from a very small power supply may demand an efficient RF(radio frequency) transceiver with minimal, or “ultra-low power” (ULP)energy consumption.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device 112 maybe a wearable device.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device 112 maybe a wristband or may be wearable to a body.

FIG. 1C shows a radio communication device 122 according to variousembodiments. The radio communication device 122 may, similar to theradio communication device 112 shown in FIG. 1B, include a memorycircuit 114 configured to (for example permanently) store data to bebroadcasted. The radio communication device 122 may, similar to theradio communication device 112 shown in FIG. 1B, further include acommunication circuit 116 configured to establish a wireless connectionwith a first further radio communication device (not shown in FIG. 1C).The radio communication device 122 may, similar to the radiocommunication device 112 shown in FIG. 1B, further include a transmitter118 configured to at least one of broadcast signals based on the storeddata or transmit a signal based on the stored data to the first furtherradio communication device using the communication circuit 116. Thecommunication circuit 116 may be configured to receive information fromthe first further radio communication device based on a signalbroadcasted by a second further radio communication device (not shown inFIG. 1C), free from (in other words: without) receiving the signal fromthe second further radio communication device. The radio communicationdevice 122 may further include a device determination circuit 124, likewill be described in more detail below. The radio communication device122 may further include a controller 126, like will be described in moredetail below. The radio communication device 122 may further include amotion determination circuit 127, like will be described in more detailbelow. The memory circuit 114 (in other words: memory), thecommunication circuit 116, the transmitter 118, the device determinationcircuit 124, the controller 126, and the motion determination circuit127 may be coupled with each other, like indicated by lines 128, forexample electrically coupled, for example using a line or a cable,and/or mechanically coupled.

According to various embodiments, the transmitter 118 may be configuredto broadcast signals according to a pre-determined timing scheme, thepre-determined timing scheme including (or being) a pre-determinednumber of transmission in a pre-determined period of time. The devicedetermination circuit 124 may be configured to determine whether anotherradio communication device is in a communication range of the radiocommunication device 122. The controller 126 may be configured to changethe pre-determined timing scheme to increase the number of transmissionsin the pre-determined period of time if the device determination circuit124 determines that another radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device 122.

According to various embodiments, the transmitter 118 may be configuredto repeatedly transmit signals at a pre-determined time interval. Thecontroller 126 may be configured to decrease the time interval if thedevice determination circuit 124 determines that another radiocommunication device is in the communication range of the radiocommunication device 122.

According to various embodiments, the transmitter 118 may be configuredto repeatedly transmit signals with a pre-determined frequency. Thecontroller 126 may be configured to increase the frequency if the devicedetermination circuit 124 determines that another radio communicationdevice is in the communication range of the radio communication device122.

According to various embodiments, the transmitter 118 may further beconfigured to transmit information to another radio communication devicein a communication session. The device determination circuit 124 may beconfigured to determine based on a location of the radio communicationdevice 122 whether another radio communication device is in acommunication range of the radio communication device 122. Thecontroller 126 may be configured to stop the communication session ifthe device determination circuit 124 determines that no further radiocommunication device is in the communication range of the radiocommunication device 122.

According to various embodiments, the motion determination circuit 127may be configured to determine whether a motion of the radiocommunication device comprises a pre-determined motion.

According to various embodiments, a radio communication system may beprovided. The radio communication system may include the radiocommunication device (for example as described with reference to FIG. 1Bor FIG. 1C above), and the first further radio communication device. Theradio communication system according to various embodiments may forexample furthermore include a server.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device may bea wearable device. The first further radio communication device may be amobile phone.

According to various embodiments, the mobile phone may be configured totransmit data indicating a location of the mobile phone to a server.

According to various embodiments, the mobile phone may be configured todetermine whether a further radio communication device is near themobile phone.

According to various embodiments, the mobile phone may be configured todetermine whether a further radio communication device is near themobile phone based on data received from a server.

According to various embodiments, the mobile phone may be configured toinstruct the wearable device to broadcast the signals based on thestored data if the mobile phone determines that a further radiocommunication device is near the mobile phone.

According to various embodiments, the wearable device may be configuredto transmit the signal based on the stored data to the mobile phoneusing the communication circuit. The mobile phone may be configured tobroadcast the signals based on the signal transmitted from the wearabledevice if the mobile phone determines that a further radio communicationdevice is near the mobile phone.

FIG. 1D shows a flow diagram 130 illustrating a method for controlling aradio communication device. In 132, data to be broadcasted may bestored. In 134, a wireless connection may be established with a firstfurther radio communication device using a communication circuit. In 136signals may be broadcasted based on the stored data and/or a signal maybe transmitted based on the stored data to the first further radiocommunication device using the communication circuit. In 138,information from the first further radio communication device may bereceived using the communication circuit based on a signal broadcastedby a second further radio communication device, free from thecommunication circuit (directly) receiving the signal from the secondfurther radio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device may bean ultra low power device.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device may bea wearable device.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device may bea wristband or may be wearable to a body.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include:broadcasting signals according to a pre-determined timing scheme, thepre-determined timing scheme including a pre-determined number oftransmission in a pre-determined period of time; determining whetheranother radio communication device is in a communication range of theradio communication device; and changing the pre-determined timingscheme to increase the number of transmissions in the pre-determinedperiod of time if the device determination circuit determines thatanother radio communication device is in the communication range of theradio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further includerepeatedly transmitting signals at a pre-determined time interval; anddecreasing the time interval if the device determination circuitdetermines that another radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include:repeatedly transmitting signals with a pre-determined frequency; andincreasing the frequency if it is determined that another radiocommunication device is in the communication range of the radiocommunication device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include:transmitting information to another radio communication device in acommunication session; determining based on a location of the radiocommunication device whether another radio communication device is in acommunication range of the radio communication device; and stopping thecommunication session if the device determination circuit determinesthat no further radio communication device is in the communication rangeof the radio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further includedetermining whether a motion of the radio communication device comprisesa pre-determined motion.

According to various embodiments, a method for controlling a radiocommunication system may be provided. The method may include:controlling a radio communication device according to one of the methodsdescribed above; and controlling the first further radio communicationdevice.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device may bea wearable device; and the first further radio communication device maybe a mobile phone.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include themobile phone transmitting data indicating a location of the mobile phoneto a server.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include themobile phone determining whether a further radio communication device isnear the mobile phone.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include themobile phone determining whether a further radio communication device isnear the mobile phone based on data received from a server.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include themobile phone instructing the wearable device to broadcast the signalsbased on the stored data if the mobile phone determines that a furtherradio communication device is near the mobile phone.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include: thewearable device transmitting the signal based on the stored data to themobile phone using the communication circuit; and the mobile phonebroadcasting the signals based on the signal transmitted from thewearable device if the mobile phone determines that a further radiocommunication device is near the mobile phone.

FIG. 2A shows a radio communication device 200 according to variousembodiments. The radio communication device 200 may include atransmitter 202 configured to transmit signals according to apre-determined timing scheme. The pre-determined timing scheme mayinclude or may define a pre-determined number of transmission in apre-determined period of time. The radio communication device 200 mayfurther include a device determination circuit 204 configured todetermine (for example based on a location of the radio communicationdevice) whether another radio communication device is in a communicationrange of the radio communication device 200. The radio communicationdevice 200 may further include a controller 206 configured to change thepre-determined timing scheme to increase the number of transmissions inthe pre-determined period of time if the device determination circuitdetermines that another radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device. The transmitter202, the device determination circuit 204, and the controller 206 may becoupled with each other, like indicated by lines 208, for exampleelectrically coupled, for example using a line or a cable, and/ormechanically coupled.

In other words, the radio communication device 200 may adjust how oftenit transmits a signal based on whether another radio communicationdevice is near to itself.

According to various embodiments, the transmitter 202 may be configuredto repeatedly transmit signals at a pre-determined time interval. Thecontroller 206 may be configured to decrease the time interval if thedevice determination circuit 204 determines that another radiocommunication device is in the communication range of the radiocommunication device 200.

According to various embodiments, the transmitter 202 may be configuredto repeatedly transmit signals with a pre-determined frequency. Thecontroller 206 may be configured to increase the frequency if the devicedetermination circuit 204 determines that another radio communicationdevice is in the communication range of the radio communication device200.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device 200 maybe a mobile radio communication device, for example a mobile phone or atablet computer.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device 200 maybe a wearable device.

According to various embodiments, the device determination circuit 204may be configured to receive from a further radio communication deviceinformation indicating whether another radio communication device is ina communication range of the radio communication device 200.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device 200 maybe a wearable device. The further radio communication device may be amobile radio communication device, like for example a mobile phone or atablet computer.

According to various embodiments, the device determination circuit 204may be configured to determine whether another radio communicationdevice is in a communication range of the radio communication device 200based on whether a signal is received (for example in the radiocommunication device 200 or further radio communication device connectedto the radio communication device 200) from another radio communicationdevice.

According to various embodiments, the device determination circuit 204may be configured to determine whether another radio communicationdevice is in a communication range of the radio communication device 200based on whether a signal is received (for example in the radiocommunication device 200 or yet a further radio communication deviceconnected to the radio communication device 200) from a further radiocommunication device connected to another radio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the transmitter 202 may be configuredto transmit signals based on at least one of a short range radiocommunication protocol, a Bluetooth communication protocol, a ZigBeecommunication protocol, a Wireless Local Area Network communicationprotocol, or an infrared communication protocol.

FIG. 2B shows a flow diagram 210 illustrating a method for controlling aradio communication device. In 212, signals may be transmitted accordingto a pre-determined timing scheme. The pre-determined timing scheme mayinclude or may define a pre-determined number of transmission in apre-determined period of time. In 214, it may be determined (for examplebased on a location of the radio communication device) whether anotherradio communication device is in a communication range of the radiocommunication device. In 216, the number of transmissions in thepre-determined period of time may be increased if it is determined thatanother radio communication device is in the communication range of theradio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include:repeatedly transmitting signals at a pre-determined time interval; anddecreasing the time interval if it is determined that another radiocommunication device is in the communication range of the radiocommunication device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include:repeatedly transmitting signals with a pre-determined frequency; andincreasing the frequency if it is determined that another radiocommunication device is in the communication range of the radiocommunication device.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device may bea wearable device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further includereceiving from a further radio communication device informationindicating whether another radio communication device is in acommunication range of the radio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device may bea wearable device. The further radio communication device may be amobile radio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further includedetermining whether another radio communication device is in acommunication range of the radio communication device based on whether asignal is received from another radio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further includedetermining whether another radio communication device is in acommunication range of the radio communication device based on whether asignal is received from a further radio communication device connectedto another radio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further includetransmitting the signals based on at least one of a short range radiocommunication protocol, a Bluetooth communication protocol, a ZigBeecommunication protocol, a Wireless Local Area Network communicationprotocol, or an infrared communication protocol.

FIG. 2C shows a radio communication device 218 according to variousembodiments. The radio communication device 218 may include atransmitter 220 configured to transmit information to another radiocommunication device in a communication session. Once it is determinedthat the other band is out of reach, communication is ended. Then aperiodic “ping” may be started. Thus, communication may not be entirelystopped, but rather the communication presently going on is stopped,which may be expressed as stopping a “communication session”. The radiocommunication device 218 may further include a device determinationcircuit 222 configured to determine based on a location of the radiocommunication device whether another radio communication device is in acommunication range of the radio communication device. The radiocommunication device 218 may further include a controller 224 configuredto stop the communication session if the device determination circuit222 determines that no further radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device 218. Thetransmitter 220, the device determination circuit 222, and thecontroller 224 may be coupled with each other, like indicated by lines226, for example electrically coupled, for example using a line or acable, and/or mechanically coupled.

In other words, the radio communication device 218 may terminate acommunication session if it determines based on its location that noother radio communication device is in its vicinity.

According to various embodiments, the controller 224 may be configuredto control the transmitter to repeatedly transmit signals according to apre-determined timing scheme when the communication session is stopped.The pre-determined timing scheme may include or may define apre-determined number of transmission in a pre-determined period oftime.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device 218 maybe a mobile radio communication device, for example a mobile phone or atable computer.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device 218 maybe a wearable device.

According to various embodiments, the device determination circuit 222may be configured to receive from a further radio communication deviceinformation indicating whether another radio communication device is ina communication range of the radio communication device 218.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device 218 maybe a wearable device. The further radio communication device may be amobile radio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the transmitter 222 may be configuredto transmit signals based on at least one of a short range radiocommunication protocol, a Bluetooth communication protocol, a ZigBeecommunication protocol, a Wireless Local Area Network communicationprotocol, or an infrared communication protocol.

FIG. 2D shows a flow diagram 228 illustrating a method for controlling aradio communication device. In 230, information may be transmitted toanother radio communication device in a communication session. In 232,it may be determined whether another radio communication device is in acommunication range of the radio communication device. In 234, thecommunication session may be stopped if it is determined that no furtherradio communication device is in the communication range of the radiocommunication device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further includecontrolling the transmitter to repeatedly transmit signals according toa pre-determined timing scheme when the communication session isstopped, the pre-determined timing scheme including a pre-determinednumber of transmission in a pre-determined period of time.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device may bea wearable device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further includereceiving from a further radio communication device informationindicating whether another radio communication device is in acommunication range of the radio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the radio communication device may bea wearable device. The further radio communication device is a mobileradio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further includetransmitting the signals based on at least one of a short range radiocommunication protocol, a Bluetooth communication protocol, a ZigBeecommunication protocol, a Wireless Local Area Network communicationprotocol, or an infrared communication protocol.

According to various embodiments, a computer readable medium may beprovided including program instructions which when executed by aprocessor cause the processor to perform any one of the methodsdescribed above.

FIG. 3 shows an illustration 300 of an indirect information exchange andof a method for band to band information exchange according to variousembodiments. A first user 302 (who may be referred to as U1) may have afirst wearable device 304 (for example a first wristband) and a firstmobile radio communication device 306 (for example a first mobilephone). A second user 308 (who may be referred to as U2) may have asecond wearable device 310 (for example a second wristband) and a secondmobile radio communication device 312 (for example a second mobilephone). A cloud server 314 may be provided.

In 316, the first user 302 (or his mobile radio communication device306) may detect a connection between the first wearable device 304 andthe first radio communication device 306 (for example a band connectionto a phone). In 318, the first user 302 may update the location data (inother words: his geolocation) to the cloud server 314.

In 320, the second user 308 (or his mobile radio communication device312) may detect a connection between the second wearable device 314 andthe second radio communication device 312 (for example a band connectionto a phone). In 322, the second user 322 may update the location data(in other words: his geolocation) to the cloud server 314.

In 324, the (cloud) server 314 may detect whether the first user 302 andthe second user 308 are in the same vicinity based on the geolocationdata. In 326, the (cloud) server 314 may inform the first user 302 andthe second user 308 that there is another user in the vicinity (forexample if it detects that the first user 302 and the second user 308are in the same vicinity based on the geolocation data).

In 328, the first mobile radio communication device 306 may inform thefirst wearable device 304 (of the first user 302) to broadcastinformation. In 330, the second mobile radio communication device 312may inform the second wearable device 310 (of the second user 308) tobroadcast information. In 332, the first wearable device 304 and thesecond wearable device 310 may broadcast information.

In 334, the first user 302 (for example his mobile radio communicationdevice 306) may receive information from the second wearable device 310and may store the information in the first mobile radio communicationdevice 306. The information received by the first user may include aUSERID (user identification or User ID), where the first user may accessthe cloud server for more personal information that second user allowed.If the first user does not have the access right to cloud server, theuser ID may not be useful for this instant. Other information such asnickname may be contained in the second user's transmission data wherethis can be used to display on the first user's wearable device or phoneespecially when the access to cloud server is not available at the pointof exchange. In 336, the second user 308 (for example his mobile radiocommunication device 312) may receive information from the firstwearable device 304 and may store the information in the second mobileradio communication device 312.

According to various embodiments, the mobile radio communicationdevices, for example (mobile) phones may (for example via an app orapplication) constantly check for band connection and the phones mayconstantly update its location (geolocation) data to the server. Theserver may inform the phone to scan for surrounding bands when itdetects more than one band in the same vicinity. Upon receiving commandfrom server, each phone may inform its respective band to broadcast bandinformation. Phones may also listen to broadcast info from thesurrounding bands. Phones may store the band information collected intoits internal memory and subsequently upload the information to theserver.

Power consumption of the band may be minimized according to variousembodiments with the implementation of this scheme. The band may onlyturn on when surrounding bands are detected. The band may only turn onfor a short period of time to broadcast information. The interval ofeach broadcast message may be controlled according the velocity of theuser movement as well as the desired power control scheme.

FIG. 4 shows an illustration 400 of an indirect information exchange andof a method for band to band information exchange according to variousembodiments. A first user 402 (who may be referred to as U1) may have afirst wearable device 404 (for example a first wristband) and a firstmobile radio communication device 406 (for example a first mobilephone). A second user 408 (who may be referred to as U2) may have asecond wearable device 410 (for example a second wristband) and a secondmobile radio communication device 412 (for example a second mobilephone). A cloud server 414 may be provided.

In 416, the first user 402 (or his mobile radio communication device406) may detect a connection between the first wearable device 404 andthe first radio communication device 406 (for example a band connectionto a phone). In 418, the first user 402 may update the location data (inother words: his geolocation) to the cloud server 414.

In 420, the second user 408 (or his mobile radio communication device412) may detect a connection between the second wearable device 414 andthe second radio communication device 412 (for example a band connectionto a phone). In 422, the second user 422 may update the location data(in other words: his geolocation) to the cloud server 414.

In 424, the (cloud) server 414 may detect whether the first user 402 andthe second user 408 are in the same vicinity based on the geolocationdata. In 426, the (cloud) server 414 may inform the first user 402 andthe second user 408 that there is another user in the vicinity (forexample if it detects that the first user 402 and the second user 408are in the same vicinity based on the geolocation data).

In 428, the first mobile radio communication device 406 may broadcastinformation of the first wearable device 404 (for example bandinformation may be replicated in the mobile phone and then broadcasted).In 430, the second mobile radio communication device 412 may broadcastinformation of the second wearable device 410 (for example bandinformation may be replicated in the mobile phone and then broadcasted).

In 432, the first user 402 (for example his mobile radio communicationdevice 406) may receive information of the second wearable device 310from the second mobile radio communication device 412 and may store theinformation in the first mobile radio communication device 406. In 434,the second user 408 (for example his mobile radio communication device412) may receive information of the first wearable device 404 from thefirst mobile radio communication device 406 and may store theinformation in the second mobile radio communication device 412.

According to various embodiments, the mobile radio communication device,for example a mobile phone, may (for example via an app or application)constantly check for band connection and the phone may constantly updateits location (geolocation) data to the server. The server may inform thephone to scan for surrounding bands when it detects more than one bandin the same vicinity. Upon receiving command from server, each (mobile)phone may broadcast its band information (for example mimic the actionof band). Each phone may also listen to broadcast info from thesurrounding bands. Each phone may store the band information collectedinto its internal memory and subsequently upload the information to theserver.

Power consumption of the band may be not affected with theimplementation of this scheme. All the tasks may be carried out by thephone.

FIG. 5 shows an illustration 500 of an indirect information exchange andof a method for band to band information exchange according to variousembodiments, which may be referred to as an offline mode. A first user502 (who may be referred to as U1) may have a first wearable device 504(for example a first wristband) and a first mobile radio communicationdevice 506 (for example a first mobile phone). A second user 508 (whomay be referred to as U2) may have a second wearable device 510 (forexample a second wristband) and a second mobile radio communicationdevice 512 (for example a second mobile phone).

In 514, the first user 502 (or his mobile radio communication device506) may detect a connection between the first wearable device 504 andthe first radio communication device 506 (for example a band connectionto a phone). In 516, the second user 508 (or his mobile radiocommunication device 512) may detect a connection between the secondwearable device 514 and the second radio communication device 512 (forexample a band connection to a phone).

In 518, both the first user 502 and the second user 508 broadcastinformation via their respective wearable devices 504 and 510 at a setinterval. The interval may be determined (or decided) by the mobileradio communication devices using geo location information set (in themobile radio communication devices).

In 520, the mobile radio communication device 506 of the first user 502and the mobile radio communication device 512 of the second user 508 maypick up broadcast information from the corresponding wearable devices(for example bands).

In 522, the first user 502 (for example his mobile radio communicationdevice 506) may receive information from the second wearable device 510and may store the information in the first mobile radio communicationdevice 506. In 524, the second user 508 (for example his mobile radiocommunication device 512) may receive information from the firstwearable device 504 and may store the information in the second mobileradio communication device 512.

When the respective mobile radio communication device (for examplephone, for example mobile phone) is connected to a server, actualinformation may be retrieved via the server.

The method as described with reference to FIG. 5 may be tailored for acommunication where there is no access server during the info exchangephase, and this method may be called offline mode. According to variousembodiments, the band may act as a linked peripheral device forrespective phone while at a set interval, broadcast band info so thatneighboring users that within its signal range can pick up the broadcastpacket.

The broadcast interval may be configured by the phone, for example whenuser is at home, it may make use of geo-location information to knowbroadcast and discovery may not be needed. The phone may then inform theband to de-activate or slow down the broadcast interval when user is athome.

Down side for such offline exchange may be a consumption of more energythan in the options described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, butit may still be better than a conventional method of actual device todevice communication.

According to various embodiments, wireless device to device informationexchange may be provided where energy capacity is very limited byleveraging on higher capacity device to perform most of the task.

The wireless device to device communication according to variousembodiments may provide wearable device which differentiate from otherswhile maintaining the necessary energy capacity for other standardfeature of a wearable devices.

According to various embodiments, devices and methods may be providedwhich leverage on the availability of wireless communication protocolssuch as BLE coupled with maturing handphone platform geo-locationservice.

Various embodiments generally relate to radio communication systems andradio communication methods.

Various applications may desire transmitting data to a portable devicebased on the location of the portable device. Such, it may be desired toprovide an efficient method for transmitting data to a portable devicebased on the location of the portable device.

According to various embodiments, a radio communication system may beprovided. The radio communication system may include: a portable device;a beacon receiving device; and a server. The portable device mayinclude: a transmitter configured to repeatedly transmit signals; and areceiver configured to receive data from the server. The beaconreceiving device may include: a receiver configured to receive signalsfrom the portable device; and a transmitter configured to transmit anindication to the server based on the received signal. The server mayinclude: a receiver configured to receive the indication from the beaconreceiving device; and a transmitter configured to transmit data to theportable device based on the indication.

According to various embodiments, a radio communication method may beprovided. The radio communication method may include: repeatedlytransmitting signals from a portable device; receiving signals from theportable device in a beacon receiving device; transmitting an indicationto the server from the beacon receiving device based on the receivedsignal; receiving the indication from the beacon receiving device in aserver; transmitting data from the server to the portable device basedon the indication; and receiving data from the server in the portabledevice.

In this context, the portable device as described in this descriptionmay include a memory which is for example used in the processing carriedout in the portable device. In this context, the beacon receiving deviceas described in this description may include a memory which is forexample used in the processing carried out in the beacon receivingdevice. In this context, the server as described in this description mayinclude a memory which is for example used in the processing carried outin the server. A memory used in the embodiments may be a volatilememory, for example a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or anon-volatile memory, for example a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory),an EPROM (Erasable PROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM), or aflash memory, e.g., a floating gate memory, a charge trapping memory, anMRAM (Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory) or a PCRAM (Phase ChangeRandom Access Memory).

In an embodiment, a “circuit” may be understood as any kind of a logicimplementing entity, which may be special purpose circuitry or aprocessor executing software stored in a memory, firmware, or anycombination thereof. Thus, in an embodiment, a “circuit” may be ahard-wired logic circuit or a programmable logic circuit such as aprogrammable processor, e.g. a microprocessor (e.g. a ComplexInstruction Set Computer (CISC) processor or a Reduced Instruction SetComputer (RISC) processor). A “circuit” may also be a processorexecuting software, e.g. any kind of computer program, e.g. a computerprogram using a virtual machine code such as e.g. Java. Any other kindof implementation of the respective functions which will be described inmore detail below may also be understood as a “circuit” in accordancewith an alternative embodiment.

It will be understood that band and wristband may be usedinterchangeable, and may for example include closed bands or bands whichmay be opened, for example by a mechanism identical or similar tomechanisms used for watches.

Various applications may desire transmitting data to a portable devicebased on the location of the portable device. According to variousembodiments, systems, devices, and methods may be provided fortransmitting data to a portable device based on the location of theportable device.

According to various embodiments, systems and devices for location basedcoupons may be provided.

FIG. 6A shows a radio communication system 600 according to variousembodiments. The radio communication system may include a portabledevice 602, a beacon receiving device 604, and a server 606. Theportable device 602 may include: a transmitter 608 configured torepeatedly transmit signals; and a receiver 610 configured to receivedata from the server. The transmitter 608 of the portable device 602 andthe receiver 610 of the portable device 602 may be coupled with eachother, like indicated by line 612, for example electrically coupled, forexample using a line or a cable, and/or mechanically coupled. The beaconreceiving device 604 may include: a receiver 614 configured to receivesignals from the portable device 602 (for example like illustrated byarrow 626); and a transmitter 616 configured to transmit an indicationto the server 606 (for example like illustrated by arrow 628) based onthe received signal. The receiver 614 of the beacon receiving device 604and the transmitter 616 of the beacon receiving device 604 may becoupled with each other, like indicated by line 618, for exampleelectrically coupled, for example using a line or a cable, and/ormechanically coupled. The server 606 may include: a receiver 620configured to receive the indication from the beacon receiving device604; and a transmitter 622 configured to transmit data to the portabledevice 602 (for example like illustrated by arrow 630) based on theindication. The receiver 620 of the server 606 and the transmitter 622of the server 606 may be coupled with each other, like indicated by line624, for example electrically coupled, for example using a line or acable, and/or mechanically coupled.

In other words, according to various embodiments, a portable device mayrepeatedly send out signals based on which a beacon receiving device maydetermine the presence of the portable device in the vicinity of thebeacon receiving device. The beacon receiving device, once determinedthe presence of the portable device, may inform a server about thepresence, and the server may transmit data to the portable device. Forexample, the beacon receiving device may be provided at a fixedlocation.

According to various embodiments, the portable device 602 may be or mayinclude or may be included in a mobile radio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the portable device 602 may include amobile radio communication device (for example a mobile phone or a tablecomputer) and a wearable device (for example a wristband).

According to various embodiments, the transmitter 608 of the portabledevice 602 may be provided in the wearable device.

According to various embodiments, the receiver 610 of the portabledevice 602 may be provided in the mobile radio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the indication may include or may bean identifier of the beacon receiving device 604.

According to various embodiments, the data may include or may be acoupon for a promotion at a location of the beacon receiving device. Forexample, the coupon may be an image or a code which may entitle theholder of the coupon to a reduced price of a good or a service, or evena free good or service.

According to various embodiments, the server 606 may further include alocation tracking circuit configured to track a location of the portabledevice 602 based on the indication.

According to various embodiments, the server 606 may further include adetermination circuit configured to determine whether a further portabledevice moves jointly with the portable device based on the trackedlocation information.

According to various embodiments, the data may include or may be acoupon for a joint promotion for the user of the portable device 602 andthe user of the further portable device if the determination circuit (ofthe server 606) determines that the further portable device movesjointly with the portable device 602.

According to various embodiments, the transmitter 622 of the server 606may further be configured to transmit the data to the further portabledevice if the determination circuit (of the server 606) determines thatthe further portable device moves jointly with the portable device 602.

According to various embodiments, the beacon receiving device 604 mayinclude a motion determination circuit configured to determine whether amotion of the portable device 602 includes (or is) a pre-determinedmotion (for example a shaking motion, for example a handshake motion).

According to various embodiments, the portable device 602 may include amotion determination circuit configured to determine whether a motion ofthe portable device includes (or is) the pre-determined motion. Thetransmitter 608 of the portable device 602 may further be configured totransmit a motion identifier to the beacon receiving device 604 if themotion determination circuit of the portable device 602 determines thatthe motion of the portable device 602 includes (or is) thepre-determined motion. The motion determination circuit of the beaconreceiving device 604 may be configured to determine whether the motionof the portable device includes (or is) the pre-determined motion basedon the motion identifier. The indication may include an identifier ofthe beacon receiving device 604, an identifier of the portable device602 and an identifier of the pre-determined motion if the motiondetermination circuit of the beacon receiving device 604 determines thatthe motion of the portable device 602 includes (or is) thepre-determined motion.

According to various embodiments, the server 606 may include adetermination circuit configured to determine whether at least twoportable devices perform the pre-determined motion at the same locationat the same time.

According to various embodiments, the server 606 may further include asocial network circuit configured to link users of the at least twoportable devices on a social network if the determination circuit of theserver 606 determines that at least two portable devices perform thepre-determined motion at the same location at the same time.

FIG. 6B shows a flow diagram 632 illustrating a radio communicationmethod according to various embodiments. In 634, signals may berepeatedly transmitted from a portable device. In 636, signals from theportable device may be received in a beacon receiving device. In 638, anindication may be transmitted to the server from the beacon receivingdevice based on the received signal. In 640, the indication may bereceived from the beacon receiving device in a server. In 642, data maybe transmitted from the server to the portable device based on theindication. In 644, data may be received from the server in the portabledevice.

According to various embodiments, the portable device may include or maybe or may be included a mobile radio communication device.

According to various embodiments, the portable device may include amobile radio communication device and a wearable device.

According to various embodiments, the repeatedly transmitting of signalsfrom the portable device may be performed by the wearable device.

According to various embodiments, the receiving of data from the serverin the portable device may be performed by the mobile radiocommunication device.

According to various embodiments, the indication may include or may bean identifier of the beacon receiving device.

According to various embodiments, the data may include or may be acoupon for a promotion at a location of the beacon receiving device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further includetracking in the server a location of the portable device based on theindication.

According to various embodiments, the method may further includedetermining in the server whether a further portable device movesjointly with the portable device based on the tracked locationinformation.

According to various embodiments, the data may include or may be acoupon for a joint promotion for the user of the portable device and theuser of the further portable device if the server determines that thefurther portable device moves jointly with the portable device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further includetransmitting the data from the server to the further portable device ifit is determined that the further portable device moves jointly with theportable device.

According to various embodiments, the method may further includedetermining in the beacon receiving device whether a motion of theportable device includes (or is) a pre-determined motion.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include:determining in the portable device whether a motion of the portabledevice includes (or is) the pre-determined motion; and transmitting amotion identifier from the portable device to the beacon receivingdevice if the portable device determines that the motion of the portabledevice includes (or is) the pre-determined motion. The beacon receivingdevice may determine whether the motion of the portable device includes(or is) the pre-determined motion based on the motion identifier. Theindication may include an identifier of the beacon receiving device, anidentifier of the portable device and an identifier of thepre-determined motion if the beacon receiving device determines that themotion of the portable device includes (or is) the pre-determinedmotion.

According to various embodiments, the method may further includedetermining in the server whether at least two portable devices performthe pre-determined motion at the same location at the same time.

According to various embodiments, the method may further include linkingusers of the at least two portable devices on a social network if theserver determines that at least two portable devices perform thepre-determined motion at the same location at the same time.

According to various embodiments, a computer readable medium includingprogram instructions which when executed by a processor cause theprocessor to perform a radio communication method (for example likedescribed above) may be provided.

FIG. 7 shows a radio communication system according to variousembodiments. For example, a wearable device 702 may repeatedly transmitsignals 704. Once the wearable device 702 arrives in a vicinity of abeacon receiving device 706, the beacon receiving device 706 may receivethe signals 704, and may thus determine that the wearable device 702 isclose to the beacon receiving device 706. The beacon receiving device706 may then transmit, like indicated by arrow 708, an indication aboutthe presence of the wearable device 702 to a server 710, and the server710 may, upon reception of the indication, transmit data (like indicatedby arrow 712) to a mobile radio communication device 714 (for example amobile phone or a table computer) associated with the wearable device702 (for example like indicated by arrow 716). For example the wearabledevice 702 and the mobile radio communication device 714 may belong tothe same user, and may communicate with each other using a short rangeradio communication technology, such as Bluetooth, ZigBee, wirelesslocal area network, or infrared. For example, the beacon receivingdevice may be provided at a fixed location, for example in a shop, andthe data transmitted from the server 710 may include information about apromotion going on in the shop, for example a coupon related to thepromotion.

The following examples pertain to further embodiments.

Example 1 is a radio communication device, comprising: a memory circuitconfigured to store data to be broadcasted; a communication circuitconfigured to establish a wireless connection with a first further radiocommunication device; and a transmitter configured to at least one ofbroadcast signals based on the stored data or transmit a signal based onthe stored data to the first further radio communication device usingthe communication circuit; wherein the communication circuit isconfigured to receive information from the first further radiocommunication device based on a signal broadcasted by a second furtherradio communication device, free from the communication circuitreceiving the signal from the second further radio communication device.

In example 2, the subject-matter of example 1 can optionally includethat the radio communication device is an ultra low power device.

In example 3, the subject-matter of any one of examples 1 to 2 canoptionally include that the radio communication device is a wearabledevice.

In example 4, the subject-matter of any one of examples 1 to 3 canoptionally include that the radio communication device is a wristband oris wearable to a body.

In example 5, the subject-matter of any one of examples 1 to 4 canoptionally include that the transmitter is configured to broadcastsignals according to a pre-determined timing scheme, the pre-determinedtiming scheme comprising a pre-determined number of transmission in apre-determined period of time; the radio communication device furthercomprising: a device determination circuit configured to determinewhether another radio communication device is in a communication rangeof the radio communication device; and a controller configured to changethe pre-determined timing scheme to increase the number of transmissionsin the pre-determined period of time if the device determination circuitdetermines that another radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device.

In example 6, the subject-matter of example 5 can optionally includethat the transmitter is configured to repeatedly transmit signals at apre-determined time interval; and wherein the controller is configuredto decrease the time interval if the device determination circuitdetermines that another radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device.

In example 7, the subject-matter of any one of examples 5 to 6 canoptionally include that the transmitter is configured to repeatedlytransmit signals with a pre-determined frequency; and wherein thecontroller is configured to increase the frequency if the devicedetermination circuit determines that another radio communication deviceis in the communication range of the radio communication device.

In example 8, the subject-matter of any one of examples 1 to 7 canoptionally include that the transmitter is further configured totransmit information to another radio communication device in acommunication session; the radio communication device furthercomprising: a device determination circuit configured to determine basedon a location of the radio communication device whether another radiocommunication device is in a communication range of the radiocommunication device; and a controller configured to stop thecommunication session if the device determination circuit determinesthat no further radio communication device is in the communication rangeof the radio communication device.

In example 9, the subject-matter of any one of examples 1 to 8 canoptionally include a motion determination circuit configured todetermine whether a motion of the radio communication device comprises apre-determined motion.

Example 10 is a radio communication system, comprising: the radiocommunication device of any one of examples 1 to 9; and the firstfurther radio communication device.

In example 11, the subject-matter of example 10 can optionally includethat the radio communication device is a wearable device; and whereinthe first further radio communication device is a mobile phone.

In example 12, the subject-matter of example 11 can optionally includethat the mobile phone is configured to transmit data indicating alocation of the mobile phone to a server.

In example 13, the subject-matter of any one of examples 11 to 13 canoptionally include that the mobile phone is configured to determinewhether a further radio communication device is near the mobile phone.

In example 14, the subject-matter of example 13 can optionally includethat the mobile phone is configured to determine whether a further radiocommunication device is near the mobile phone based on data receivedfrom a server.

In example 15, the subject-matter of any one of examples 13 to 14 canoptionally include that the mobile phone is configured to instruct thewearable device to broadcast the signals based on the stored data if themobile phone determines that a further radio communication device isnear the mobile phone.

In example 16, the subject-matter of any one of examples 13 to 15 canoptionally include that the wearable device is configured to transmitthe signal based on the stored data to the mobile phone using thecommunication circuit; wherein the mobile phone is configured tobroadcast the signals based on the signal transmitted from the wearabledevice if the mobile phone determines that a further radio communicationdevice is near the mobile phone.

Example 17 is a method for controlling a radio communication device, themethod comprising: storing data to be broadcasted; establishing awireless connection with a first further radio communication deviceusing a communication circuit; at least one of broadcasting signalsbased on the stored data or transmitting a signal based on the storeddata to the first further radio communication device using thecommunication circuit; and receiving using the communication circuitinformation from the first further radio communication device based on asignal broadcasted by a second further radio communication device, freefrom the communication circuit receiving the signal from the secondfurther radio communication device.

In example 18, the subject-matter of example 17 can optionally includethat the radio communication device is an ultra low power device.

In example 19, the subject-matter of any one of examples 17 to 18 canoptionally include that the radio communication device is a wearabledevice.

In example 20, the subject-matter of any one of examples 17 to 19 canoptionally include that the radio communication device is a wristband oris wearable to a body.

In example 21, the subject-matter of any one of examples 17 to 20 canoptionally include: broadcasting signals according to a pre-determinedtiming scheme, the pre-determined timing scheme comprising apre-determined number of transmission in a pre-determined period oftime; determining whether another radio communication device is in acommunication range of the radio communication device; and changing thepre-determined timing scheme to increase the number of transmissions inthe pre-determined period of time if the device determination circuitdetermines that another radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device.

In example 22, the subject-matter of example 21 can optionally include:repeatedly transmitting signals at a pre-determined time interval; anddecreasing the time interval if the device determination circuitdetermines that another radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device.

In example 23, the subject-matter of any one of examples 21 to 22 canoptionally include: repeatedly transmitting signals with apre-determined frequency; and increasing the frequency if it isdetermined that another radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device.

In example 24, the subject-matter of any one of examples 17 to 23 canoptionally include: transmitting information to another radiocommunication device in a communication session; determining based on alocation of the radio communication device whether another radiocommunication device is in a communication range of the radiocommunication device; and stopping the communication session if thedevice determination circuit determines that no further radiocommunication device is in the communication range of the radiocommunication device.

In example 25, the subject-matter of any one of examples 17 to 24 canoptionally include: determining whether a motion of the radiocommunication device comprises a pre-determined motion.

Example 26 is a method for controlling a radio communication system, themethod comprising: controlling a radio communication device according tothe method of any one of examples 17 to 25; and controlling the firstfurther radio communication device.

In example 27, the subject-matter of example 26 can optionally includethat the radio communication device is a wearable device; and whereinthe first further radio communication device is a mobile phone.

In example 28, the subject-matter of example 27 can optionally include:the mobile phone transmitting data indicating a location of the mobilephone to a server.

In example 29, the subject-matter of any one of examples 27 to 28 canoptionally include: the mobile phone determining whether a further radiocommunication device is near the mobile phone.

In example 30, the subject-matter of example 29 can optionally include:the mobile phone determining whether a further radio communicationdevice is near the mobile phone based on data received from a server.

In example 31, the subject-matter of any one of examples 29 to 30 canoptionally include: the mobile phone instructing the wearable device tobroadcast the signals based on the stored data if the mobile phonedetermines that a further radio communication device is near the mobilephone.

In example 32, the subject-matter of any one of examples 29 to 31 canoptionally include: the wearable device transmitting the signal based onthe stored data to the mobile phone using the communication circuit; andthe mobile phone broadcasting the signals based on the signaltransmitted from the wearable device if the mobile phone determines thata further radio communication device is near the mobile phone.

Example 33 is a radio communication system comprising: a portabledevice; a beacon receiving device; and a server; wherein the portabledevice comprises: a transmitter configured to repeatedly transmitsignals; and a receiver configured to receive data from the server;wherein the beacon receiving device comprises: a receiver configured toreceive signals from the portable device; and a transmitter configuredto transmit an indication to the server based on the received signal;and wherein the server comprises: a receiver configured to receive theindication from the beacon receiving device; and a transmitterconfigured to transmit data to the portable device based on theindication.

In example 34, the subject-matter of example 33 can optionally includethat the portable device is a mobile radio communication device.

In example 35, the subject-matter of any one of examples 33 to 34 canoptionally include that the portable device comprises a mobile radiocommunication device and a wearable device.

In example 36, the subject-matter of example 35 can optionally includethat the transmitter of the portable device is provided in the wearabledevice.

In example 37, the subject-matter of any one of examples 35 to 36 canoptionally include that the receiver of the portable device is providedin the mobile radio communication device.

In example 38, the subject-matter of any one of examples 33 to 37 canoptionally include that the indication comprises an identifier of thebeacon receiving device.

In example 39, the subject-matter of any one of examples 33 to 38 canoptionally include that the data comprises a coupon for a promotion at alocation of the beacon receiving device.

In example 40, the subject-matter of any one of examples 33 to 39 canoptionally include that the server further comprises a location trackingcircuit configured to track a location of the portable device based onthe indication.

In example 41, the subject-matter of example 40 can optionally includethat the server further comprises a determination circuit configured todetermine whether a further portable device moves jointly with theportable device based on the tracked location information.

In example 42, the subject-matter of example 41 can optionally includethat the data comprises a coupon for a joint promotion for the user ofthe portable device and the user of the further portable device if thedetermination circuit determines that the further portable device movesjointly with the portable device.

In example 43, the subject-matter of any one of examples 41 to 42 canoptionally include that the transmitter of the server is furtherconfigured to transmit the data to the further portable device if thedetermination circuit determines that the further portable device movesjointly with the portable device.

In example 44, the subject-matter of any one of examples 41 to 43 canoptionally include that the beacon receiving device comprises a motiondetermination circuit configured to determine whether a motion of theportable device comprises a pre-determined motion.

In example 45, the subject-matter of example 44 can optionally includethat the portable device comprises a motion determination circuitconfigured to determine whether a motion of the portable devicecomprises the pre-determined motion; wherein the transmitter of theportable device is further configured to transmit a motion identifier tothe beacon receiving device if the motion determination circuit of theportable device determines that the motion of the portable devicecomprises the pre-determined motion; wherein the motion determinationcircuit of the beacon receiving device is configured to determinewhether the motion of the portable device comprises the pre-determinedmotion based on the motion identifier; and wherein the indicationcomprises an identifier of the beacon receiving device, an identifier ofthe portable device and an identifier of the pre-determined motion ifthe motion determination circuit of the beacon receiving devicedetermines that the motion of the portable device comprises thepre-determined motion.

In example 46, the subject-matter of example 45 can optionally includethat the server comprises a determination circuit configured todetermine whether at least two portable devices perform thepre-determined motion at the same location at the same time.

In example 47, the subject-matter of example 46 can optionally includethat the server further comprises a social network circuit configured tolink users of the at least two portable devices on a social network ifthe determination circuit of the server determines that at least twoportable devices perform the pre-determined motion at the same locationat the same time.

Example 48 is a radio communication method comprising: repeatedlytransmitting signals from a portable device; receiving signals from theportable device in a beacon receiving device; transmitting an indicationto the server from the beacon receiving device based on the receivedsignal; receiving the indication from the beacon receiving device in aserver; transmitting data from the server to the portable device basedon the indication; and receiving data from the server in the portabledevice.

In example 49, the subject-matter of example 48 can optionally includethat the portable device is a mobile radio communication device.

In example 50, the subject-matter of any one of examples 48 to 49 canoptionally include that the portable device comprises a mobile radiocommunication device and a wearable device.

In example 51, the subject-matter of example 50 can optionally includethat the repeatedly transmitting of signals from the portable device isperformed by the wearable device.

In example 52, the subject-matter of any one of examples 50 to 51 canoptionally include that the receiving of data from the server in theportable device is performed by the mobile radio communication device.

In example 53, the subject-matter of any one of examples 48 to 52 canoptionally include that the indication comprises an identifier of thebeacon receiving device.

In example 54, the subject-matter of any one of examples 48 to 53 canoptionally include that the data comprises a coupon for a promotion at alocation of the beacon receiving device.

In example 55, the subject-matter of any one of examples 48 to 54 canoptionally include tracking in the server a location of the portabledevice based on the indication.

In example 56, the subject-matter of example 55 can optionally include:determining in the server whether a further portable device movesjointly with the portable device based on the tracked locationinformation.

In example 57, the subject-matter of example 56 can optionally includethat the data comprises a coupon for a joint promotion for the user ofthe portable device and the user of the further portable device if theserver determines that the further portable device moves jointly withthe portable device.

In example 58, the subject-matter of any one of examples 56 to 57 canoptionally include: transmitting the data from the server to the furtherportable device if it is determined that the further portable devicemoves jointly with the portable device.

In example 59, the subject-matter of any one of examples 56 to 58 canoptionally include: determining in the beacon receiving device whether amotion of the portable device comprises a pre-determined motion.

In example 60, the subject-matter of example 59 can optionally include:determining in the portable device whether a motion of the portabledevice comprises the pre-determined motion; transmitting a motionidentifier from the portable device to the beacon receiving device ifthe portable device determines that the motion of the portable devicecomprises the pre-determined motion; wherein the beacon receiving devicedetermines whether the motion of the portable device comprises thepre-determined motion based on the motion identifier; and wherein theindication comprises an identifier of the beacon receiving device, anidentifier of the portable device and an identifier of thepre-determined motion if the beacon receiving device determines that themotion of the portable device comprises the pre-determined motion.

In example 61, the subject-matter of example 60 can optionally include:determining in the server whether at least two portable devices performthe pre-determined motion at the same location at the same time.

In example 62, the subject-matter of example 61 can optionally include:linking users of the at least two portable devices on a social networkif the server determines that at least two portable devices perform thepre-determined motion at the same location at the same time.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described withreference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by thoseskilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdefined by the appended claims. The scope of the invention is thusindicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within themeaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended tobe embraced.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A radio communication device, comprising: amemory circuit configured to store data to be broadcasted; acommunication circuit configured to establish a wireless connection witha first further radio communication device; and a transmitter configuredto at least one of broadcast signals based on the stored data ortransmit a signal based on the stored data to the first further radiocommunication device using the communication circuit; wherein thecommunication circuit is configured to receive information from thefirst further radio communication device based on a signal broadcastedby a second further radio communication device, free from thecommunication circuit receiving the signal from the second further radiocommunication device; wherein the transmitter is configured to broadcastsignals according to a pre-determined timing scheme, the pre-determinedtiming scheme comprising a pre-determined number of transmission in apre-determined period of time; the radio communication device furthercomprising: a device determination circuit configured to determinewhether another radio communication device is in a communication rangeof the radio communication device; and a controller configured to changethe pre-determined timing scheme to increase the number of transmissionsin the pre-determined period of time if the device determination circuitdetermines that another radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device.
 2. The radiocommunication device of claim 1, wherein the radio communication deviceis an ultra low power device.
 3. The radio communication device of claim1, wherein the radio communication device is a wearable device.
 4. Theradio communication device of claim 1, wherein the radio communicationdevice is a wristband or is wearable to a body.
 5. The radiocommunication device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is configuredto repeatedly transmit signals at a pre-determined time interval; andwherein the controller is configured to decrease the time interval ifthe device determination circuit determines that another radiocommunication device is in the communication range of the radiocommunication device.
 6. The radio communication device of claim 1,wherein the transmitter is configured to repeatedly transmit signalswith a pre-determined frequency; and wherein the controller isconfigured to increase the frequency if the device determination circuitdetermines that another radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device.
 7. The radiocommunication device of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is furtherconfigured to transmit information to another radio communication devicein a communication session; the radio communication device furthercomprising: a device determination circuit configured to determine basedon a location of the radio communication device whether another radiocommunication device is in a communication range of the radiocommunication device; and a controller configured to stop thecommunication session if the device determination circuit determinesthat no further radio communication device is in the communication rangeof the radio communication device.
 8. The radio communication device ofclaim 1, further comprising: a motion determination circuit configuredto determine whether a motion of the radio communication devicecomprises a pre-determined motion.
 9. A method for controlling a radiocommunication device, the method comprising: storing data to bebroadcasted; establishing a wireless connection with a first furtherradio communication device using a communication circuit; at least oneof broadcasting signals based on the stored data or transmitting asignal based on the stored data to the first further radio communicationdevice using the communication circuit; and receiving using thecommunication circuit information from the first further radiocommunication device based on a signal broadcasted by a second furtherradio communication device, free from the communication circuitreceiving the signal from the second further radio communication device;broadcasting signals according to a pre-determined timing scheme, thepre-determined timing scheme comprising a pre-determined number oftransmission in a pre-determined period of time; determining whetheranother radio communication device is in a communication range of theradio communication device; and changing the pre-determined timingscheme to increase the number of transmissions in the pre-determinedperiod of time if the device determination circuit determines thatanother radio communication device is in the communication range of theradio communication device.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein the radiocommunication device is an ultra low power device.
 11. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the radio communication device is a wearable device.12. The method of claim 9, wherein the radio communication device is awristband or is wearable to a body.
 13. The method of claim 9, furthercomprising: repeatedly transmitting signals at a pre-determined timeinterval; and decreasing the time interval if the device determinationcircuit determines that another radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device.
 14. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising: repeatedly transmitting signals with apre-determined frequency; and increasing the frequency if it isdetermined that another radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device.
 15. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising: transmitting information to another radiocommunication device in a communication session; determining based on alocation of the radio communication device whether another radiocommunication device is in a communication range of the radiocommunication device; and stopping the communication session if thedevice determination circuit determines that no further radiocommunication device is in the communication range of the radiocommunication device.
 16. The method of claim 9, further comprising:determining whether a motion of the radio communication device comprisesa pre-determined motion.
 17. A radio communication device, comprising: amemory circuit configured to store data to be broadcasted; acommunication circuit configured to establish a wireless connection witha first further radio communication device; and a transmitter configuredto at least one of broadcast signals based on the stored data ortransmit a signal based on the stored data to the first further radiocommunication device using the communication circuit; wherein thecommunication circuit is configured to receive information from thefirst further radio communication device based on a signal broadcastedby a second further radio communication device, free from thecommunication circuit receiving the signal from the second further radiocommunication device; wherein the transmitter is further configured totransmit information to another radio communication device in acommunication session; the radio communication device furthercomprising: a device determination circuit configured to determine basedon a location of the radio communication device whether another radiocommunication device is in a communication range of the radiocommunication device; and a controller configured to stop thecommunication session if the device determination circuit determinesthat no further radio communication device is in the communication rangeof the radio communication device.
 18. The radio communication device ofclaim 17, wherein the radio communication device is an ultra low powerdevice.
 19. The radio communication device of claim 17, wherein theradio communication device is a wearable device.
 20. The radiocommunication device of claim 17, wherein the radio communication deviceis a wristband or is wearable to a body.
 21. The radio communicationdevice of claim 17, wherein the transmitter is configured to broadcastsignals according to a pre-determined timing scheme, the pre-determinedtiming scheme comprising a pre-determined number of transmission in apre-determined period of time; the radio communication device furthercomprising: a device determination circuit configured to determinewhether another radio communication device is in a communication rangeof the radio communication device; and a controller configured to changethe pre-determined timing scheme to increase the number of transmissionsin the pre-determined period of time if the device determination circuitdetermines that another radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device.
 22. The radiocommunication device of claim 21, wherein the transmitter is configuredto repeatedly transmit signals at a pre-determined time interval; andwherein the controller is configured to decrease the time interval ifthe device determination circuit determines that another radiocommunication device is in the communication range of the radiocommunication device.
 23. The radio communication device of claim 21,wherein the transmitter is configured to repeatedly transmit signalswith a pre-determined frequency; and wherein the controller isconfigured to increase the frequency if the device determination circuitdetermines that another radio communication device is in thecommunication range of the radio communication device.
 24. The radiocommunication device of claim 17, further comprising: a motiondetermination circuit configured to determine whether a motion of theradio communication device comprises a pre-determined motion.